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1996. Pp. [9]+218. Acknowledgments, introduction, prologue, epilogue,endnotes, appendices, bibliography, index. $79.95, cloth, limited.)Theophilus Bowman (1844-1883), who took the moniker Mason T. Bowman(also referred to as Mason Timothy Bowman by two writers), was Kentucky born,the son of a preacher. (Although some owned slaves, the family split its alle-giance during the Civil War as did so many border state households.) A Confed-erate participant, Bowman became involved in the Lee-Peacock feud innortheastern Texas during Reconstruction, later befriended the famous Allisonbrothers (Robert Clay and John), and then served as deputy and sheriff of Col-fax County, New Mexico, among other law enforcement positions. Beyond this,as the three authors state, "he participated in several gunfights, officiated at onelegal hanging, loved, was married, divorced, and married again" (p. 3).Bowman's name is not well known in the annals of western history so the valueof this biography is important. In fact, more of these kinds of investigations arenecessary in order to provide a composite portrait of those who comprised the"gunfighter set." These types of individuals have to be placed in the context ofthe era along with the newer perceptions of the post-Civil War years. Althoughpictures (even those published for the first time) are important to visualize acharacter with the background presented, they can never adequately compen-sate for a diligently researched, well-told narrative story. Too often, the focus up-on western gunfighters and lawmen has neglected chronology as well as thelarger panorama.There are five significant difficulties with the Bowman biography. First, Bow-man disappears from the narrative for long stretches. Second, the view of Recon-struction in Texas is grossly outdated. Third, new publications about Texas andother states are pointedly ignored. For example, Richard B. McCaslin's superbaccount of the Gainesville hanging (Tainted Breeze [1994]), was not consulted. As aresult, old shibboleths and ideas pervade the monograph. Fourth, the book re-quired scrupulous editing, which it did not receive. This flaw makes understandingBowman's life an exercise in patience. Fifth, even though the materials for a full-scale biography are simply nonexistent, the authors should have incorporatedthe pictures within a coherent narrative framework..In spite of these criticisms and the weaknesses of this book, Mace Bowman con-tains important information about this lesser-known western lawman.Gallaudet University BARRY A. CROUCHRemakzng the Agrarian Dream: New Deal Rural Resettlement in the Mountain West. ByBrian Q. Cannon. (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1996. Pp.x+195. List of tables and figures, preface, illustrations, notes, bibliography,index. ISBN 0-8263-1716-2. $40.00, cloth.)The New Deal aided poor farm families with 164 resettlement projects. TheFarm Security Administration purchased land, resettled farm families, and provid-ed general assistance. Twelve projects existed in the Mountain West of New Mexi-co, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Idaho. When the program ended,